San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 2009 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-12-20, the Philadelphia Eagles took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 27–13 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with -15.58 total EPA, and -4.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Morgan (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.04 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-11.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (15:00) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 46-D.Walker to PHI 8 for 8 yards (24-S.Brown). FUMBLES (24-S.Brown), RECOVERED by PHI-22-A.Samuel at PHI 6.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Morgan · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +5.04 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
2. 2 D. McNabb · Philadelphia Eagles · Passing · +4.67 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
3. 3 L. McCoy · Philadelphia Eagles · Rushing · +2.86 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Celek · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.68 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Jackson · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.33 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +1.38 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.38 EPA/play
7. 7 F. Gore · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +0.74 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Weaver · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +0.56 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Jackson (D. McNabb pass) (Q1 57:56)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. McNabb (Q2 39:57)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Morgan (A. Smith pass) (Q3 21:18)
• Philadelphia Eagles — L. McCoy (Q4 12:22)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q1 54:34)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q2 34:28)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q2 30:04)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q3 25:04)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 7–3. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the SF 19 (Q1 57:56) — (12:56) 5-D.McNabb pass short left to 10-D.Jackson for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q1 57:47) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the PHI 33 (Q1 54:34) — (9:34) 6-J.Nedney 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 13–0. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the SF 8 (Q2 39:57) — (9:57) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb scrambles left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on SF-32-M.Lewis, Illegal Contact, declined.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 39:49) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca.; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the SF 4 (Q2 34:28) — (4:28) 2-D.Akers 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca.; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the SF 8 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 2-D.Akers 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 10–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the PHI 7 (Q3 25:04) — (10:04) 6-J.Nedney 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the PHI 12 (Q3 21:18) — (6:18) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 84-J.Morgan for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q3 21:12) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 7–0. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the SF 2 (Q4 12:22) — (12:22) 29-L.McCoy up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 11:32) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 46-D.Walker to PHI 8 for 8 yards (24-S.Brown). FUMBLES (24-S.Brown), RECOVERED by PHI-22-A.Samuel at PHI 6. [WPA -11.2% · EPA -3.87]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 46:22) — (1:22) 43-L.Weaver up the middle to PHI 29 for no gain (51-T.Spikes). [WPA -9.3% · EPA -3.28]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 44:20) — (14:20) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass deep left to 87-B.Celek to SF 33 for 43 yards (36-S.Spencer). [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.24]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 14:30) — (14:30) 5-D.McNabb pass deep right to 10-D.Jackson pushed ob at SF 22 for 59 yards (32-M.Lewis). [WPA +8.4% · EPA +4.48]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 39:57) — (9:57) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb scrambles left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on SF-32-M.Lewis, Illegal Contact, declined. [WPA +7.8% · EPA +3.07]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 24:56) — (9:56) 5-D.McNabb pass short left intended for 10-D.Jackson INTERCEPTED by 31-D.Bly at PHI 44. 31-D.Bly to PHI 35 for 9 yards (74-W.Justice). [WPA -5.2% · EPA -4.89]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 14:30) — (14:30) 5-D.McNabb pass deep right to 10-D.Jackson pushed ob at SF 22 for 59 yards (32-M.Lewis). [WPA +8.4% · EPA +4.48]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 37:36) — (7:36) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short right intended for 85-V.Davis INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Samuel at SF 46. 22-A.Samuel to SF 28 for 18 yards (68-A.Snyder). [WPA -4.6% · EPA -4.30]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 46-D.Walker to PHI 8 for 8 yards (24-S.Brown). FUMBLES (24-S.Brown), RECOVERED by PHI-22-A.Samuel at PHI 6. [WPA -11.2% · EPA -3.87]

Quarterback report card

A.Smith led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 43 dropbacks · 46.5% completion · -4.5% CPOE · -0.36 EPA/play · -15.58 total EPA
• D.McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) · 39 dropbacks · 53.8% completion · +3.9% CPOE · +0.12 EPA/play · +4.67 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Philadelphia Eagles held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.05 vs -0.10), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Philadelphia Eagles: 13 drives, +4.18 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 13 drives, -8.10 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Philadelphia Eagles leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Morgan (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Smith (SF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• D. McNabb (PHI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 57:56 · SF 19 · Score 0-6
   (12:56) 5-D.McNabb pass short left to 10-D.Jackson for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 57:47 · SF 2 · Score 0-7
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
3. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 54:34 · PHI 33 · Score 3-7
   (9:34) 6-J.Nedney 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
4. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 39:57 · SF 8 · Score 3-13
   (9:57) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb scrambles left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on SF-32-M.Lewis, Illegal Contact, declined.
5. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q2 39:49 · SF 2 · Score 3-14
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
6. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q2 34:28 · SF 4 · Score 3-17
   (4:28) 2-D.Akers 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
7. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · SF 8 · Score 3-20
   (:04) 2-D.Akers 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
8. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 25:04 · PHI 7 · Score 6-20
   (10:04) 6-J.Nedney 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
9. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 21:18 · PHI 12 · Score 12-20
   (6:18) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 84-J.Morgan for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 21:12 · PHI 2 · Score 13-20
    6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
11. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q4 12:22 · SF 2 · Score 13-26
    (12:22) 29-L.McCoy up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q4 11:32 · SF 2 · Score 13-27
    2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-6-S.Rocca.